Cigarette-cut-off mechanism and method



Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,654

F. RUAU CIGARETTE CUT-OFF MECHANISM'AND METHOD Filed March 27, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR jzz'x iaau A TTORNE Y5 Dec 28, 1926. 1,612,654

F. RUAU CIGARETTE CUTOFF MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed March 27, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet s \q Java/V7012 x B y f2 Zz'x' fiua a V1 TTORNE Y6 Dec. 28', 1926. 1,612,654

F. RUAU CIGARETTE CUT-OFF MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed March 27, 1922 -4. Sheets-Sheet 4 11v VENTOR BY feiz'xfiuau a M Ifi/ZZM ,4 TTORNE V5 Patented D c 28, 1926.

-* UNITED STATES 1,612,654 PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX RUAU, or LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, AssIeNoIt'ro UNITED CIGARETTE MACHINE 00., INc., or LYNcHBune, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION or VIRGINIA.

CIGARETTE-CUT-OFF" MECHANISM AND METHOD.

Application filed March 27, 1922. Serial No. 546,885,

This invention relate; to a cut-off mechanism and method for use in continuous rod cigarette machines; and has special reference to the provision of a novel method for 6 cutting the continuous cigarette rod into units of cigarette length and to the mechanism employed in the practice of the method.

The cut-off mechanisms now universally employed in continuous rod'cigarette ma- IU chines consist of arotating cutter device having a compound reciprocating and o"cillating motion on the machine and operative for cutting the rod into sections or units of cigarette length, As is well known; the

If) productive capacity or output of a continuou's rod cigarette machine depends very largely upon the speed and accuracy of operation of the'cut-ofl mechanism in severing the rod into cigarette lengths, the difficulty in cigarette machines of this type. having been the provision of a cut-ofli' mechanism capable of operation at very high speeds and capable of withstanding the strain and Wear and tear due to the rapid reciprocating and oscillating movement of the cutter elements. A principal object'of my present invention comprehen'ds the provision of a novel cut-oft mechanism capable of high speed and ease of operation whereby the capacity or output of the cigarette machine may be considerably increased.

In prior-machines of this ty e, the reciprocating and oscillatingcut-o mechanisms function to SGVBI the continuous rod into the cigarette lengths or units, the cutting being eifectuated in one step. By my present invention I propore to efiect the cutting of the rod in two steps, the continuous rod being first severed into small rods of multiple cigarette lengths, these small rods being then cut or divided in cigarette sections or unitsfl This I accomplish by employing two cutter devices for effecting the two cutting steps. A principal object of my present invention may therefore be said to comprise the provision of a cut-ofl mechanism and a method for cutting the continuous cigarette rod into cigarette lengths in which, in con- ]llI1Ctl0I1 Wll3h the cutter device now emsecondary cutter functioning for dividing vational views of a modified ployed, a second cutter device is utilized,

or cutting the said small rods into the final cigarette sections or lengths. By first cut ting the continuous rods into rods of multiple cigarette lengths I am enabled to operate the first or primary cutter at a much lower reciprocating and -.oscillating rate, with a given speed of rod movement, or conversely, I am enabled to obtain or permit of a greater speed of rod movement and consequently a greater output of the cigarette machine with a given speed or rate of opera tion of the cut-ofl' mechanism.

. Another principal object of my present lnvention relates to the provision of a sim- 1 plified and improved primary cut-ofi' device in which the moving parts are reduced in number and the arrangement otherwise simplified, a primary cut-oflt' mechanism capable of great speed of operation being thereby obtained. I

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompan ing drawings 'which show preferred embo iments of my invention and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away of my cut-off mechanlsm showing the primary and secondary cut-ofi'deyices,

Figure 2 is a cross'sectional view of the same taken on the line 22, Figure 1 and showing the construction of the primary cutoff mechanism,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1 and showing the construction of the secondary cut-off mechanism and associated parts,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts shown in Figure 3,

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical and side eleseconda'ry cutofi mechanism, and v Figures '7 and 8 are views showing a still further modification of the secondary cutoff mechanism.

As heretofore pointed out, the method I employ for cutting the continuous rod into cigarette lengths consists in first cutting the rod into small rods of lengths equal to a multiple of the cigarette length by means of a primary cut-ofi' mechanism and in thereafter dividing -or cutting the said'small rods into cigarette sections or lengths by means of a secondary cut-off mechanism. -Refcrring now to the drawings, the apparatus I employ in thepracticc of the method consists generically in the primary cut-oli mechanism l and the secondary cut-off mechanism S associated therewith.

The primary cut-off mechanism 1 of my invention is of the type now employed in cigarette machines in which a. rotatable cutter or blade is reciprocated longituthnally of the cigarette machine for movement during cutting activity in the direction of and atthe same speed as the moving continuous rod and in which the cutter is oscillated transversely of the machine into and out of the path of movement of the rod for cutting the same. The primary cutter of my invention, however, for a given production or output of the machine, is operated at a lesser cyclic speed than prior cut-off mechanisms, operation of the primary cut-off mechanism at higher cyclic speeds permitting a correspondingly greater product on or output of the cigarette machine. The primary eutotf mechanismof my present invention has been further improved to the end of reducing the number of moving parts of the same and otherwise simplifying the construction thereof'for the purpose of obtaining a device capable of standing up at the desired high speed of 0 station. Referring now more in detail to tie drawings, I provide the rotatable cutter 0 having the compound reciproeating and oscillating motion referred to, the said cutter in the present exem lification of my invention being prefera )ly at= tached to a tubular element or sleeve 10 freely slidable and rotatable on a cutter shaft 11. For reciprocating the cutter 0 there is provided a carriage 12 slidable or reciprocable on spaced shafts 13 and 14, the shaft 14 being fixedin opposed bearings 15 and 16 respectively, preferably formed integral with the framework casting 17 of the machine, the shaft 13 being preferably supported in the bearing bracket 18, also preferably integral with the framework casting 17, the shaft 13 extending only partially across the cut-off mechanism, as will be clear from a consideration of Figure 1 of the drawings. The carriage 12 is provided with the usual guide or ledger tubes 19 and 20 forreceiving and guiding the continuous cigarette rod, the ledger tubes being movable with the carriage as s usual in these devices. The carriage 12 is further provided with the spaced arcuate plates 21 and 22, these plates 21 and 22 engaging therebetween the wheel 23 fixed toor forming part of the cutter sleeve or tube 10. With this construction it will be apparent that upon reciprocation of the carriage 12 on the shafts 13 and 14 the cutter c wIll be reciprocated in opposite directions by the engagement of the wheel 23 between the carriage plates 21 and 22. The cutter shaft 11 with this construction, as Wlll appearfurther presently, is mounted independent of the carriage and is not reciprocable therewith, and with this constrnctipn it w.ll be seen that the only reciprocating parts comprise the carriage having a small mass,

the ledger or guide tubes carried thereby and the cutter with its attached sleeve 10, the reciprocating parts being thus reduced to a minimum with the consequent reduc tion of the factors of mass and inertia.

For effecting oscillation of the cutter c the cutter shaft 11 is journalled in the apertured bosses 24 and 25 formed at the ends of the arms 26 and 27 of theactuating levers 28 and 2!), the said levers 28 and 29 being fulcrumed on the machine as by being rotatable on a shaft 30 journalled in the upstanding spaced brackets 31 and 32 attach-ed in any desired manner to the framework of themachine. The shaft 30 is in effect a rock shaft, the levers 28 and 29 being, r'ocka-ble or oscillatable on said shaft for effecting the tions. During the oscillation of the cutter c 4 the wheel 23 thereof is movable between the arcuate plates 21 and 22, the said arcuate plates therefore confining the said wheel for reciprocating the same in any position of the cutter during its oscillation. "For rotating the cutter 0 there is provided the usual sheave 35 attached to the said cutter, the

said sheave being rotatable by means to be 1 described hereinafter during the oscillation and reciprocation of the cutter c.

For effecting the reciprocation of the carriage 12 and its associated parts, there is provided the drum cam 36 fixed to a shaft 37 journalled in the spaced depending bracket bearings 38 and 39 attached to the machine framework, the said cam 36 being provided with the operating cam groove 4-0 and cooperating with the cam groove there is provided the lever 41 rockable or oscillatable on a shaft 42 jonrnalled in the opposed bearings 4.3 and 44 attached in' any suitable manner to the framework 45 of the machine, the lever 41 being preferably provided with an elongated sleeve-like shank 46 rockable on the shaft 42 for obtain ng a well balanced and smooth operation. The lever/11 is provided with the opposed arms 47 and 48$.the arm 47 being provided at its end with a freely rotatable cam follower 49 movable in the cam groove 40, the arm 48 of the lever being connected to the carriage 12 for reciprocating the same. The connection between the lever arm 48v and the carriage 12 may comprise a slidable block 50 freelv movable varying lengths of. cigarettes the connection a drive shaft 56. \Vith this construction it between the lever arm 48 and the carriage 12 is preferably made adjustable and to this end the block 50'may be adjusted in the arm 48, the said arm being provided with an elongated recess or slot 52, the said block 50 being adjustable longitudinally of the slot and being fixed in any adjusted posmon as by meansof the securing means 53. Fixed to the cam shaft 37therc is provided the gear 54' meshing with a gear 55 attached to will be seen thatnpon rotation of the drive shaft the cam 36 will be rotated to effect the reciprocationof the carriage 12-and its associated parts,- the carriage being movable in the direction of and at the same speed'a s the continuous cigarette rod 1', which is guidedlyfed through the ledger tubes 19 and 20. For effecting the oscillationof the cutter 0 during the-reciprocating movements thereof. the lovers 28 and 29 are oscillated preferably from thecam shaft 37. To this end the cam shaft 37 is provided at its opposite ends -with the eccentric pins or studs 57. and 58 receiving the eccentric strap portions 59 and 60 preferably formed integrally with actuating arms 61' and 62, the arms Gland 62 being secured in position on the eccentric pins or studs 57- and 58 ,'as by the securing means 63 and 64 respectively.. The arms 61- and 62 are pivotally connected to the ends of the operating lever arms 33 and 34 of the levers 28 and 29 and for the purpose of adjusting the position of the Cutter 0 with respect to the moving rod 1" the connection between these parts is preferably made adjustable.

To these ends the arms 61 and .62 are'pro-.

vided at their upper ends with the apertured bosses 65 and 66, in which is journalled the transverse shaft 67, the said shaftbeingadjustable in elongated recesses suchas 68 in.

the lever arm 33"shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the parts being secured in any adjusted position with. any suitable securing f means. With the provision of this construction it will be obvious that upon rotation of the cam shaft 37 the arms 61 and 62 will be actuated for oscillating the lever arms 28 and 29 for in turn'eifecting the desired oscillation of. the cutter c.

For rotating the cutter'orblade 0 during its compound movement, the sheave 35 of the cutter is rotated by means of a belt 69 movable over an opposed pulley orv sheave 70 fixed to a shaft71, the latter rotatable in the bearings 72 and 73 provided in an upstanding bracket 7 4 attached in any desired manher to the framework of the machine. the

said shaft 71 receiving motion from a drive shaft such as 75 as by means of. the belt 76 trained or movable over a drum or pulley 77 on the drive shaft 75 and an opposed drum orpulley 7 fixed to' the shaft :71.

In theoperation of the primary cut-off mechanism, P the cutter 0 is given a compound rotating, reciprocating and oscillating' motion, the cyclic speed of the cutter,- that s the number of oscillations and re- CIPIOCiItlOIIS PGI' unit of time of the said cutter being such as to effect the cutting otv the continuous rod '1' into smaller rods of multiple cigarette lengths. The lengths of the small rods cut may, for example, be 2, 3 or 4 times the normal length ofa cigarette, and in the present cxcm 'ilitication of my invention I have shown the cutter 0 etfcctive for cutting the continuous rod into rods havlng lengths equlvalent or equal torod in a given time, the output or productive capacity of the machine being considerably enhanced thereby, the construction of the cut-off mechanism having been further so designed as to permit of very high cyclic and rectilinear speeds.

After the small rods are cut by the pri-. mary cut-off mechanism the rods are conveyed to a secondary cutter S and'then cut into final cigarette sections or lengths. The secondary cutter S comprises, generically, the stationarily mounted and rotatable cutter a and the advancing or feeding means f for. conveyingthe small rods to the rotatable cutter to be cut thereby. The feeding mechanism f and the cutter c are supported on the side plates 79 and 80 which are, in

turn, supported by and attached to the bracketed framework 81 of the machine.

The cigarette rods, after being cut by the primary cut-off mechanism, are fed through aU -shaped channel 82 supported by the side plate 80, the rods being moved in position to be rapidly fed forward by a rotatable feed wheel 83 having an active ortion 84 and a mutilated or nonactive portion 85, the said wheel 83 being preferably surfaced with a band ofrubber for frictionally contacting .or engaging the small rods such as 1" fed disks 87, 88, 89 and 90 comprising a conveyer, the said notched disks being lntended for receiving the cigarette rods r and for feeding the same for cutting purposes. Each disk 87 to 90 inclusive is provided with a plurality of spacednotches n and adjacent each notch there is pnovided a cigarette rod engaging finger such as f. The cigarette rods r when fed from the channel 82 are passed between the spaced outer and inner guides 91 and 92 respectively, the said guides being arranged relatively to the notched disks 87 to 90 inclusive for guiding the cigarette rods 1' int- 0 the notches n of the said disks during the rotation of the disks in the direction as shown by the arrows in Figure 4 of the drawings, the manner of guiding the rods into the notches being clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The notched disks 87 to 90 are given a continnous motion, the fingers f of the notches functioning during the rotation of the disk in engaging successive rods r and moving the same between the outer and inner guides 91 and 92, the parts being associated to make the successive cigarette rods take the successive positions as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the cigarette rods after completely entering the notches in the disks being then ready for the cutting step. For the purpose of alining or registering the successive cigarette rods 1" so that such rods may all be cut in exactly the same position, there may be further provided the side guides 93 and 94, the guide 94 being contoured to move the cigarette rods into registered and abutting position against the side guide 93.

In the rotation of the notched disk conveyer the cigarette rods are brought under tion I show a single cutter 0' for dividing.

the influence of the rotatable cutter 0. The cutter c is rotatably mounted in an arm 95 which is pivotally mounted for adjustment on a shaft 96 journalled in the side plate 80, as will be clear from a consideration of Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the arm 95 v the cigarette rods of double length into the cigarette lengths, but it will be apparent that where the primary cut-01f mechanism P produces rods of longer lengths a plurality of-cutters 0 may be provided for obtaining the final cigarette sections or lengths.

After the cigarette rods 7* are divided or cut into the cigarette units the cigarettes are guided by means of the outer guides 91 and are deposited upon an endless receiver or conveyer 98 movable over drums 99 and- 100 journaled in the framework of the 'machine, the drum 100 being preferably ad-- justable as by being journalcd-in blocks 101 slidable in ways or guides 102 in the frame-.

work of the machine and fixed in adjusted position as by means of the set screw device 103, this to the ,end of maintaining the shafts 56 and by means of the following provisions. For rotating the cutter or plate 0 the cutter shaft is provided with a pulley orsheave 104 receiving an endless belt 105, the belt receiving motion from a pulley or sheave 106 fixed to the shaft 71-, the belt 105 being guided by means of the spaced uide rollers 107 and 108. The shaft 71, as liereinbefore pointed out, receives motion from the drive shaft 75 and thus the cutter c" is actuated or operated from this drive shaft. The notched disk conveyer is o erated by rotation of the shaft 86, this s aft being provided with a gear 109 meshing with a gear 110 fixed to the shaft 111, the said gear 110in turn meshing with a pinion 112 on a shaft 113, the said shaft 113 being provided at an end opposed to the pinion end thereof with a sprocket wheel 114 over which is trained a sprocket chain 115 receiving motion from an opposed sprocket 116 fixed to the drive shaft 56. For operating the friction feed wheel 83 the said feed wheel is fixed to a shaft 117 journaled in a bearing 118 attached to the framework of the machine (see-Figure 3), the shaft 117 carrying a sprocket wheel 119 over which is trained a chain 120 receiving motion-from a sprocket wheel 121 attached to a shaft 122, the said shaft being journaled in a bracket 123, the shaft, in turn, receiving motion from the shaft 113 as by means of the inter-meshing gears 124 and 125 fixed respectively to the shafts 122 and 113. The

sprocket chain 120 may be guided by means of the guide rollers 126 and 127, the'said guide rollers being adjustably mounted in a bracket 128. For moving the endless receiver or conveyer 98 the drum 99 may be positively actuated and to this end the said drum is attached to the shaft 111 carrying the gear wheel 110; lVith this construction it will be apparent that the notched disk conveyer, the endless conveyer 98 and the friction feed wheel 83, are all synchronously I operated from the drive shaft 56.

The secondary cut-off mechanism S for cutting thesmall rods into final cigarette lengths may be varied within wide limits, Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings showing two modifications of this secondary cut-ofi' mechanism. 7 Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the cigarette rods 7'' of multiple cigarette lengths when fed through the U-shaped channel 82? fall or are deposited in the box or chute 129, the cigarette rods collecting in the said chute as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. These cigarette rods 1" become arranged lengthwise in the grooves 130 of a carrier or conveyer wheel 131, the latter fixed for rotation on a shaft 132 and movable in the direction as-shown the grooves 137 and 138 of the roller 133,

the roller 133 bein rotatable in the direction as shown by t 1e arrow in Figure 6 of the drawings for limiting the movement of the cigarette rods 1*" in the chute or box 129. The cigarette rods 7' in their movement on the carrier wheel 131,'come between the guides 139 and 140 and'are moved into registering position by means of the side guides 141 and 142. After the cigarette rods 1" are properly registered and positioned they are moved over the rotatable and preferably 'stationarily mounted cutter c fixed to a shaft 143 and rotatable inbearing 144 of the arm 145, the said cutter mov-,

able in agroove 145' of the wheel 131 severing the double length rods r into cigarette units after which the cigarettes are deposited upon the endless conveyer or carrier belt 146 movable over the drum 147. With this construction the secondary feeding devices and also the secondary cutter may be continuously operated in a manner similar to the continuous operation of the secondary cut-off mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 4 .ofthe drawings, an unhmlted speed of this secondary cutter being permitted thereby.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8- of the drawings, which show side and end elevational views of a third modification of the secondary cut-off mechanism, the cigarette" rods 1", after being cut by the primary cutoff mechanism, are moved through a U- shaped channel 148, the advanced cigarette rods r being moved through this channel by the succeeding cigarette rods. The cigarette rods 1" in being moved through the channel 148 in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 7, are moved beneath a rotating brush 149 fixed to and rotatable with a shaft 150, thesaid brush 149 continuously rotating in the direction as shown by the arrows in stationary.

tubes 151 and 152, the tube 152 being attached to or formed with the channe 148 and the tube 151 being attached to an extension ofthe said channel such as to a channel 153. For cutting the cigarette rods 1" there isprovided a rotatable cutter a I freely rotatable on a shaft 154, the said shaft being journaled in an arm 155 of a.rock lever 156, the other arm 157 of the said rock lever being provided with a cam follower 158 movable over a rotatable cam 159 fixedto a shaft160, the said cam 159 being adapted to be rotated in the direction as shown by the arrow in Figure 8 of the drawings. The cutter c by the provision of this construction is given a combined rotating and oscillating motion, the said cutter being adapted for intermittently moving into and out of the path of movement of the cigarette rods 1" for cutting the same, the cam 159 and the lever 156 effecting the desired oscillating movement of the said cutter. During the cutting activity the motion or movement of the cigarette rods 1' is checked so that cutting takes place with the rods For checking the movement of the cigarette rods there is provided a movable stop 161 movable between the guide channel 153 and a guide channel 162, the said stop 161 comprising a plate preferably forming part of the rock lever 163 rockable on a shaft 164, the arm 165 of the said lever being provided with a roller or cam follower 166 movable over the cam surface of a cam 167 attached to the rotatable shaft 160. In the rotation of-the shaft 160 with this construction it will be obvious that the fore the descent of the cutter c for cutting the double rods 7'', the stop member 161 is 'moved into the rod path by the cam 167 as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the motion of the cigarette rods advanced by the rotatable brush 149 being thus checked. The brush 149, by its continued rotation, maintains the cigarette rods in exact position to be cut by the friction which the brush exerts upon the said rods. When positioned as shown in the drawings the cam 159 quickly moves the cutter 0 against the ledger tube 151 and into the cigarette rod for effecting a clean and transverse cut therein. The con- 'struction and relative arrangement of the rection as shown by the arrow in the figure,

the peripheral speed of the brush 168 being the succeeding rod '1" and are deposited upon the moving endless conveyer 170 movable over the drum 171. "After the cut cigarette sections 1' are moved by the brush 168 past the position of a stop 161 the said stop is again dipped or moved to descended position for checking the motion of the succeeding rod r to be cut.

The practice of my present method of cutting continuous cigarette rods into cigarette lengths or sections and the operation of the cut-off mechanism employed in the practice of the method will, in the main, be apparent from the above detailed description thereof. In all the forms of my invention the continuous cigarette rod, after being formed by the associated parts of the cigarette machine, is c'cntinuously'rnoved through the cigarette guides 19 and 20 as is common in cigarette machines, a primary cut-off mechanism P having a compound reciprocating, oscillating and rotata le motion being employed for cutting the continuous cigarette rod 1' into small rods r of multiple cigarette lengths, these small rods being then advanced or fed to a. second cut-off mechanism S for cutting the small rods into the final cigarette lengths or units.- With the provision of this method and this cut-off mechanism it will be apparent that I am enabled to effect a cuttingoperation of the continuous rod at greater speeds than in the universally employed cutoff mechanisms, the output or productive capacity of the machine being thereby considerably enhanced. It willbe further apparent that with my improved primary cutoff mechanism a greater cyclic speed of operation is permitted, the movable reciprocating parts having been reduced to a minimum. It will be further seen that the parts are so relatively arrangedas to provide a compact, strong and dura standing the rough use to which machines of this type are sub ected in actual service.

While I have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications maybe made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, de ned in the following claims.

, I claim:

' 1, A. cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines comprising a reciprocable carriage, an oscillatable cutter device associated therewith and reciprocated thereby, means for reciprocating the carriage and mechanism for oscillating the cutter device, the said mechanism being independent ofsaid carriage, the construction being such that the cutter device only is reciprocated by movement of said carriage.

2. A cut-off mechanism for continuous rod le machine capable of withcigarette machines comprising a reciprocable carriage, a movable cutter associated therewith and reciprocated thereby, instrumentalities for reciprocating the carriage to move the same in the direction of rod movement and mechanism for moving the cutter across the path of movement of the rod, the said mechanism including a cutter shaft and means for moving the shaft, the said meansand shaft being independent of said carriage. I

3. A cut-01f mechanism for cigarette machines comprising a reciprocable carriage, an

aoscillatable cutter associated therewith and reciprocated thereby, means for reciprocating the carriage and mechanism for oscillating the cutter, the said mechanism including a shaft carrying the cutter and lever means for oscillating theshaft, the said lever means being mounted independent of said carriage.

4. In a .cut-ofi mechanism for continuous 1 associated with the carria e to be reciprocated thereby, instrumenta ities for reciprocating the carriage andmechanism for oscillatin the cutter shaft, the said mechanism inclu in'g lever means having only an oscillating motion on-the machine.

6. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, a cut-off mechanism comprlsing' acarriage mounted for reciprocation on the machine framework, a cutter shaft mounted for oscil lation on the machine framework and a cutter device slidable on said shaft and associated with the carriageto be reciprocated thereby.

7. In a contmuous rod cigarette machine,

a cut-off mechanism comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the machine framework, a cutter: shaft mounted for oscillation on the machine framework, a cutter device slidable on said shaft and associated with the carriage to. be reciprocated thereby, instrumentalities for reciprocating the carriage and mechanism for oscillating the cutter shaft.

8. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette .machines, a reciprocable carriage, a movable cutter associated therewith and reciprocated thereby, means for reciprocating the said carriage and instrumentalities for moving the said cutter; the said means for reci r0' eating the carriage comprising a lever avmg an operating arm adjustably connected to the said carriage for varying the length of travel thereof. 7

9. In a cut-off mechanism for'cigarette machines, a cutter including a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating the said carriage comprising a lever oscillatable about an axis transverse to the path of'movement of said carriage; the said lever being provided with opposed arms, a cam for actuating one of the arms and adjustable means connecting the other arm to the said carriage and adjustable for varying the length of travel of the said carriage.

10. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, a cut-off mechanism comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the machine framework, a cutter shaft mounted for oscillation on the machine framework, a cutter device slidable on said shaft and associated with the carriage to be reciprocated thereby, instrumentalities for reciprocating the carriage and mechanism for.oscillating the cutter shaft, the said mechanism comprising oscillating the cutter device, the said mechanism being independent of said carriage, the construction being such that the cutter device only is reciprocated by movement of said carriage, the said means including a rock lever connected 'to the carriage, and a cam and cam shaft for operating the lever, the said mechanism including oscillatable lever means and arms for operating the same actuated by said camshaft.

Signed at Lynchburg, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia this 21st day of March A. D. 1922.

FELIX RUAU. 

